Do not drive if feeling any discomfort

A fatal accident involving an 86-year-old driver who struck and killed a father and his 5-year-old daughter in a school crosswalk has provoked a debate in Utah over whether seniors should be allowed to drive.

Some people think seniors should no longer be driving because their slow reflexes make them a danger on the road.

However, the most recent Utah crash statistics actually indicates that older drivers are the age group with the least probability of getting into any crash, including those that result in fatality, injury or property damage. Young drivers in their teens were found to have a crash rate five times higher than the rate for octogenarians.

The Utah driver services bureau chief acknowledges there may be a problem with senior drivers, but not quite as big as people think. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says automobile crashes account for less than 1 percent of deaths among those 70 years or older.

Still, many states are concerned. The baby boom generation is getting older, and there will soon be many older drivers on the road. The states want to make sure that roads are safe for older drivers. Utah and many other states are making design changes that are particularly favorable to older drivers: brighter signs, bigger letters, more street lights, and protected left turn signals at intersections.

But aside from engineering changes, safety plans also address licensing procedures and medical issues, as well as specific difficulties that come with old age, like slower reflexes.

Licensing policies require more careful processing for older drivers in at least 25 states and the District of Columbia. Iowa and Rhode Island require 70-year-olds and above to renew licenses every two years; Alaska requires licenses to be renewed in person for those 69 years and older. Illinois says a road test is necessary to renew licenses of drivers 75 and older. Like many other states, Utah requires a vision test when those aged 65 and older renew their licenses.

Advocates for seniors believe that policies should not target age but rather ability, such as visual acuity, reaction time and cognitive problems. Criteria should be based on scientific evidence.

Some seniors do voluntarily turn in the keys. About one-fifth of persons 65 and older in the U.S. do not drive. The AARP offers some signs to stop driving:

* Ability to handle a car affected by medication or medical condition
* Others don’t want to ride with you
* Feelings of nervousness, discomfort or fear while driving
* Difficulty staying in one driving lane
* Slower reaction time to unexpected situations